Titanium-based alloy

ABSTRACT

The inventive titanium-based alloy contains 2.2-3.8 mass % aluminium, 4.5-5.9 mass % vanadium, 4.4-5.9 mass % molybdenum, 2.0-3.6 mass % chromium, 0.1-0.4 mass % zirconium, 0.01-0.18 mass % iron and 0.03-0.25 mass % oxygen, the rest being titanium. Said alloy exhibits a high processing plasticity in hardened condition thereof associated with a high strength. The alloy has a high temperature range, thereby making it possible to use it not only for screw heads and helical springs but also for producing large-sized semi-products whose cross section ranges up to 60 mm and which are used in high temperature conditions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the metallurgical one, and more particularly to creation of the modern titanium alloys used for making high-strength and high-tech items, including the large-sized ones, i.e. alloys having the high generecity.

PRIOR STATE OF ART

One of the known titanium alloys is the alloy containing, in % by weight: aluminum 2-6, molybdenum 6-9, vanadium 1-3, chromium 0.5-2.0, iron 0-1.5, titanium—balance (Inventor's Certificate USSR No. 180351, Class C22C 14/00, published 1966).

This alloy was proposed for making die-forgings and forgings for the highly loaded structural parts. The significant drawback is its tendency to forming the high density inclusions when melting ingots due to the high content of the refractory element molybdenum (>6%). The presence of such inclusions in the high-loaded parts leads to destruction of such parts when being in service.

The other known titanium alloy, containing % by weight: 4.0-6.3 Al; 4.0-5.0 V; 1.5-2.5 Mo; 0.8-1.4 Cr; 0.4-0.8 Fe; 0.01-0.08 Zr; 0.01-0.25 C; 0.03-0.25 O; balance—titanium (Inventor's Certificate USSR No. 555161, Class C22C 14/00, published 1977).

This alloy has the high strength properties, fine ductility, not disposed to forming the high density inclusions.

The drawback of this alloy is the impossibility of cold die-forging, caused by insufficient level of the index of the process plasticity as age, such as the degree of cold upsetting (less than 60%).

The closest to the claimed invention from the technical point is the alloy with the base of titanium, containing % by weight: 2.2-3.8 Al; 4.5-5.9 V; 4.5-5.9 Mo; 2.0-3.6 Cr; 0.2-0.8 Fe; 0.01-0.08 Zr; 0.01-0.25 C; 0.03-0.25 O; Ti—balance (RF Patent No. 2150528, Class C22C 14/00, published 2000)—prototype.

Alloy has the high level of plasticity as quenched, in this case they achieve the degree of cold upsetting >75%.

However, the known alloy has the insufficiently high level of the working temperatures, this limits the scope of its application as a structural material for making parts, used at increased temperatures.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention aims at creation of the titanium alloy with the increased heat-resistance, which ensures the possibility of making the heavy large-sized parts with the high level of the strength and plastic properties, used at increased temperatures.

The technical result achieved when patent pending is in regulating the optimum combination of α- and β-stabilizing alloying elements in the finished semiproduct.

The technical result is achieved due to the fact that in the alloy with the base of titanium, containing aluminum, vanadium, molibdenum, chromium, iron, zirconium, carbon, oxygen, according to the invention, the components are taken in the following ratio, weight %: Aluminum 2.2-3.8 Vanadium 4.5-5.9 Molibdenum 4.5-5.9 Chromium 2.0-3.6 Zirconium 0.1-0.4 Iron 0.01-0.18 Carbon 0.01-0.25 Oxygen 0.03-0.25 Titanium balance

The combination of high strength and plasticity of the proposed alloy is achieved as a result of the task-oriented choice and experimental evaluation of the alloying ranges. Content of the α-stabilizing elements (aluminum, oxygen, carbon) and β-stabilizers (molibdenum, vanadium, chromium, iron) is chosen as required and sufficient for achievement of the set target. Besides, the proposed alloy ensures the possibility to effectively regulate the strength level of the alloy as aged within the wide ranges.

Balancing aluminum and chromium content in the claimed alloy ensures high alloy ability for cold die forging (fine rolling to bar) and possibility of alloy strengthening by the thermal techniques obtaining the high level of the strength and plastic properties.

With aluminum and chromium content below the minimum values the alloy strength is lowered after thermostrengthening (σ_(B)<1400 MPa), i.e. the problem put is not achieved.

When aluminum and chromium content exceeds the declared limit the alloy plasticity lowers (δ<8%, ψ<40%) with the high strength level (σ_(B) >1400 MPa).

To ensure the required strength (>1150 MPa) as quenched and aged, as well as to perform quenching in the air, not in water, the content of V and Mo is set as >4.5%.

V and Mo content is accepted 5.9% max due to the hazard of significant growth of segregation non-uniformity and occurrence of defects when using the hard master alloys.

As the increase of V and Mo content, as already said, is not recommended to be above 5.9%, then for the subsequent (above 1150 MPa) increase of the strength properties (as quenched and aged) they introduce the moderate additions of Cr (2.0-3.6%) and Fe (to 0.18%) within the limits, which do not bring to the occurrence of the visible dentritic or zonal segregation.

In the proposed alloy, as compared to the prototype, the iron content with the value of the distribution number is decreased. $\left( {K = \frac{{Csolid}\quad{phase}\quad\%}{{Cliquid}\quad{phase}\quad\%}} \right)$ is significantly below one, and this predetermines the iron tendency to segregation, which is aggravated with the increase of the ingot and item size.

Amount of zirconium in the alloy from 0.1 to 0.4% ensures increase of the tensile strength without lowering of the metal processibility during hot (not increases the flow stress) and cold (not decreases the plasticity resource) deformation. In this case stabilizing the α-phase, zirconium increases creep resistance and high-temperature strength.

Introduction of zirconium exceeding 0.4% significantly lowers the alloy processing plasticity during cold strain.

Ranges of alloying with zirconium and iron are selected on the base of experimental evaluation of the alloy mechanical properties in the proposed composition range. Content of zirconium from 0.1 to 0.4% and iron to 0.18% ensures the increase of the ultimate strength of the alloy in the as quenched and aged condition.

The proposed combination of the components of the alloy and their % ratio in complex ensures the possibility of the alloy deformation in the greater temperature range and obtaining parts by cold die forging.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For the evaluation of the alloy properties the double-melt ingots were vaccum arc remelting melted with the following alloy compositions (Table 1). TABLE 1 Alloy chemistry, % by weight Alloy Al V Mo Cr Fe Zr C O₂ Ti 1 2.2 4.5 4.5 2.0 0.1 0.1 0.01 0.03 balance 2 3.0 5.2 4.8 2.8 0.15 0.2 0.2 0.2 balance 3 3.8 5.9 5.9 3.6 0.18 0.4 0.25 0.25 balance

The bars were made of each ingot with the diameter of 50 mm. The bars were heat-treated to obtain the high strength. The mechanical properties of bars at room temperature are show in Table 2. TABLE 2 Rate of Mechanical properties deformation Resistance when cold Ultimate Yield Elonga- Reduction to shear upsetting Strength Strength tion of Area τ_(cp.) Alloy ε, % σ_(B)(MPa) σ_(0,2)(MPa) δ(%) ψ(%) (MPa) 1 77 1425 1370 11 48 915 2 75 1470 1385 10 43 945 3 72 1515 1455 9 41 975 Required level 70 1400 1300 8 40 900 of properties

Test results show that the declared items (bars with dia 50 mm) from titanium-base alloy have the high processing plasticity level as quenched, in this case they achieve the degree of cold upsetting >75% in combination with high strength obtained as a result of the subsequent ageing (σ_(B)>1500 Mpa).

COMMERCIAL PRACTICABILITY

The claimed alloy has the higher range of the working temperatures (10-15° C. higher than the alloy-prototype has), this gives the possibility to use it not only when making the bolt heads through cold heading, in cold threading, in production of coil springs, and for making large semis up to 60 mm in section, with the high level of strength and plastic properties, used at increased temperatures. 

1. Alloy with the base of titanium, containing aluminum, vanadium, molibdenum, chromium, iron, zirconium, carbon, oxygen, differing in the fact that the alloy components are taken in the following ratio of the % by weight. Aluminum 2.2-3.8 Vanadium 4.5-5.9 Molibdenum 4.5-5.9 Chromium 2.0-3.6 Zirconium 0.1-0.4 Iron 0.01-0.18 Carbon 0.01-0.25 Oxygen 0.03-0.25 Titanium balance 